The hauen of pleasure containing a freemans felicitie, and a true direction how to liue well : profitable and del[i]ghtfull to all, hurtfull and displeasing to none, except it bee to such pecuish dames as do either foolishlie reiect, or carelesly neglect the dutie of chast matron[e]s / gathered out of the best approued authors.

Certaine precepts applied to good life. Chap. 43.

AS there are many precepts giuen by lear∣ned men, how to lead a good and godlie life, so Martial hath deliuered some very profitable and honest: by which as with the forefinger he sheweth by what means one may leade his life profitablie, and not only auaila∣ble for the health of the body, but also for the quietnes of the mind, and these are the precepts:

Vitam quae faciunt beatiorem, Iucundissime Martialis, haec sunt. Res non parta labore, sed relicta, Non ingratus ager, focus perennis, Lis nunquam, toga rara, mens quieta, Vires ingenuae, salubre corpus, Prudens simplicitas, pares amici, Conuictus facilis, sine arte mensa, Nox non ebria sed soluta curis, Non tristis thorus, at tamen pudicus: Quod sis esse velis, nihilque malis: Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes.

Those things that make a happy life are these my pleasant Martial, Goods left by friends, not got with paine, a fruitful field, fire diurnal, No strife, smale honor, quiet minde, great strength, and body that is sownd: Wise simplenes, and equal friends, thin diet, no boords that abound, No drunken night, but void of care; No angry wife, but one that's chast:

Let thy state please thee, couet nought, Wish, nor be at Doms day agast.

These commodities of this life if thou canst not obtaine altogether according to thy wishe and hearts desire, thou oughtest not to repine at it, and kill thy selfe with sorrowe: but rather refer al things to the wil of God and his prouidence, who is the only guider of all thinges in the worlde. For so was Dauid wont to doe in all his actions, whether they happened to him aduerselie or prosperouslie, where hee subiecteth all thinges to Gods power, nothing respecting chance or fortune, attributing all the course of his life to him, and saying: The course of my yeares are in thy hands, that is, all my dayes are guided according to thy will.

Notes

• Lib. 10
• Psal. 30.